WKU Student/Athlete Drowns In Oregon

Bend, OR – A 20 year old Western kentucky University student has drowned in the DeSchutes River near Bend, Oregon just one day before his 21st birthday. Michael Wilhite was an infielder for the Hilltoppers and was in Oregon for the summer to play second base for the Bend Elks team. Authorities say Wilhite was floating on the river with two friends on an air mattress Thursday afternoon when witnesses say he fell in while attempting to get off the mattress. A dive team found Wilhite's body late Thursday night. Investigators said there is no evidence that there was any foul play, but that they will do a toxicology analysis. About 10 members of the Elks team were in the river with Wilhite when the accident occurred. Wilhite was from Franklin, Kentucky and had just completed his sophomore baseball season at WKU.